Opinions relating to re-testing for license renewal, what's your opinion? Options

[saleeka]

I got to thinking just a few minutes ago how here in the US, we don't have licensed drivers re-test at any point to insure that they are still knowledgeable of traffic laws, and I really don't understand why... I just came back from the grocery store and had, I’ll say, an "unpleasant" experience with an older gentleman driver who clearly did not have the attention, or practical knowledge to be driving safely anymore... I've heard that too many people are against re-testing for fear that it would negatively affect them, but personally, I'm all for having to re-test at renewal time. I can't see how taking a few hours out of a good driver's day is so negative in comparison to the people who fail and are forced to take a day and go through "the basics" again and pass, hopefully leaning a few things and becoming a better driver in the process. I understand implementing re-testing would incur quite a bit of cost to fund and run, but I think a few times in a lifetime (say once every ten years) would be a reasonable refresher and good balance between cost-effectiveness and usefulness. What does everybody else think?

[Supersprynt]

You want to re-test every 5 or 6 years? Thats a bit extreme.

It will require more people to do more road tests on a daily basis. The DMV would be flooded with appointments to retest.

Costs would go up to pay for the increase in work staff.

You can get your license here in NY at 16. Senior license at 18. I think maybe retesting should occur at 70, but certainly not whenever renewal is required. My license was issued in 2004 and expires in 2010, 6 years.

I also think there should be a cap on who can drive, like 85 yrs old.

This post has been edited by Supersprynt: Jun 16, 2007 - 8:51 PM